Sony NEX-7 In-Depth Review

Resolution Chart Comparison (JPEG and RAW)

Images on this page are of our standard resolution chart which provides for measurement of resolution up to 4000 LPH (Lines Per Picture Height). A value of 20 equates to 2000 lines per picture height. For each camera we use the relevant prime lens (the same one we use for all the other tests in a particular review). The chart is shot at a full range of apertures and the sharpest image selected. Studio light, cameras set to aperture priority (optimum aperture selected), image parameters default. Exposure compensation set to deliver approximately 80% luminance in the white areas.

What we want to show here is how well the camera is able to resolve the detail in our standard test chart compared to the theoretical maximum resolution of the sensor, which for the charts we shoot is easy to work out - it's simply the number of vertical pixels (the chart shows the number of single lines per picture height, the theoretical limit is 1 line per pixel). Beyond this limit (which when talking about line pairs is usually referred to as the Nyquist frequency) the sensor cannot faithfully record image detail and aliasing occurs.

This limit is rarely attained, because the majority of sensors are fitted with anti-aliasing filters. Anti-aliasing filters are designed to reduce unpleasant moiré effects, but in doing so, they also reduce resolution (the relative strength and quality of these filters varies from camera to camera). In theory though, a sensor without an AA filter, when coupled with a 'perfect' lens, will deliver resolution equal to its Nyquist limit. Therefore, even though it may be effectively unattainable with normal equipment in normal shooting situations, an understanding of a sensor's theoretical limit provides a useful benchmark for best possible performance. Nyquist is indicated in these crops with a red line.

On this page we're looking at both JPEG and Raw resolution. For a (more) level playing field we convert the latter using Adobe Camera Raw. Because Adobe Camera Raw applies different levels of sharpening to different cameras (this confirmed) we use the following workflow for these conversions:

Vertical resolution

JPEG

RAW

Horizontal resolution

JPEG

RAW

The NEX-7's 24MP pixel count pays off in high levels of detail, accurately resolving up to at least 3400 lines per picture height. Beyond this some demosaicing artefacts and colour moiré start to creep in, and past 3600 lph there's little meaningful detail. As we'd expect from the pixel count, this is pretty well as good as it gets without making the considerable step up to medium format - impressive stuff from such a small camera.

Sony's JPEG sharpening uses a fairly unsubtle broad radius unsharp mask, which gives rise to obvious haloes and tends to be destructive of very fine detail - especially when it's low contrast, unlike this test chart. As always, if detail resolution is your priority, raw files provide a much better starting point than JPEGs (and you can often get more out of them than we've managed here, using our standard sharpening settings).

@Marionez: This comment appears to have been posted less than a day ago (8/15/2017). As such, I'll reply to it and give you some advice from the point of view of someone buying it in 2017. The NEX-7 was great for its day and it is still an excellent camera. However, just so you know, it was released 6 years ago, and so you might find some good deals on used ones, but I don't know if there are any new ones floating around. Also, some other cameras to keep your eye on would be the slightly lower-level NEX-6 (2012), and the a6000 (2014, which was meant to replace both the NEX-6 and NEX-7, and fits between the two of them). Personally, I would buy a new a6000, but I see there is a VERY USED "BARGAIN" NEX-7 at KEH camera for $268, but it is banged up. (A NEX-6 in "FAIR" condition at National Camera Exchange is $209.99.) A new a6000 starts at around $545, and has some changes such as a modern hotshoe. I'd definitely spend extra to get newer stuff. Whichever you prefer is up to you.

@Charrick1: Hi, I want to ask you for advice. Today I found used NEX-7 with Sony E 18-55 OSS lens in e-shop for 390€. It looks fairly good, at least for the three pictures that show it. Now I am thorn between new Fuji X-A2 for 450€ and this. Is NEX-7 still better then X-A2?

@Erik_B: The ISO performance of the NEX-7 is not nearly as good as a 24MP APS-camera of today. The Fuji X-A2 is only 16MP and 4 years newer, so ISO performance should be considerably better. ISO3200 and ISO6400 should be useful on the Fuji where Sony will do poorly even at ISO3200 (I don't go over ISO1600 on my NEX-7)

I use both the NEX7 & 6. I have no need to get a full frame 35mm equivalent. My next move will be to medium format. It's the only way to get better results than the APS-C or FF. I had to go back to my 1970's Nikon equipment to match the crisp images that the NEX7 gets; the NEX6 is a half step behind the NEX7 in resolution but it does have it's uses over the NEX7. They really complement each other. Previously I used a Canon 7D with "L" lenses but I got tired of documenting actual focus from AF. The mirrorless gives me none of these problems. The NEX7 ends, Sony can only give it more whistles & bells.

A6000 is similar to NEX-7 but:1. has a lower resolution EVF than NEX-7 (1,44k vs. 2,36k)2. A6000 has faster hybrid AF with contrast+phase detection3. NEX-7 has a magnesium front+top body, A6000 is "composite"

Your review is incorrect. The NEX 7 does not have an uncompressed file option. The manual clearly states that ARW files are compressed and this is born out by the size of the files. This results in artifacts at fairly small enlargement.

To my mind there seems to be a certain ‘paranoia’ about the NEX-7, something I find quite disturbing. Whilst most professional reviewers are writing very positive, comprehensive feedback, amateur armchair experts seem to picking holes in everything by writing messages all over the Internet that are littered with non-understandable technical jargon. I am far from sure anyone without an advanced degree in photography can understand what on earth they are on about. Surely the strength of a camera is in the pictures (or video) the camera offers, and in the case of the NEX-7, it’s generally recognised they are quite astounding, comparing quite favourably against cameras at four times the cost.

I agree. I came late to the NEX-7 and think it is an exceptional piece of kit that produces superb images, even in my hands....I could only criticise the user interface which could be friendlier (and which has apparently been improved on later 'Nex' developments. I have been happy to adapt to it, though.It is one of those classic cameras (like my Sony R1) which I will hold on to for life.

I have had an NEX-7 for about a year now and like you find it an excellent piece of kit: It far exceeds my abilities. My friend is a Pro in London and uses cameras which are far more expensive said he may get one because the quality is excellent, especially for the quick shots outdoors when setting up his stuff would take too long and the moment lost.

I agree with you and my Canon equipment has been collecting dust since my purchase of the Nex7 and a6000. Both outstanding and so portable. The fact you can shoot video through the viewfinder, is the biggest plus among many for me.The likely negatives come from those who don't own one.

I bought a Nex-7 for pro work when it was first introduced, open minded about it replacing my Nikon SLRs. On the first assignment I discovered that the ergonomics were nowhere near as efficient as a Nikon SLR's, the kit lens was soft in the corners, the jpegs watercoloury at high ISO, and the battery was too small, so it fell into disuse.Then I bought a Nikon adapter and used the Nex-7 for rapid shots through a manual focus tele lens, landscapes with a tilted lens or when I needed to assess depth of field carefully, and close-ups where no mirror slap was an advantage. I tried using it for video, but found the touchy record button too unreliable. On one remote shoot I took 15 spare batteries, using the camera only for video and panoramas, and used up the last battery on the last day. Six (?) years later, I'm still shooting mostly (cont.)

with SLRs, and the Nex-7, now chipped and cracked with 62,000 shots on the clock and still working, is my carry-around snapshot camera. It served me well enough, a camera with terrific raw image quality let down by an inefficient, fiddly interface, some poor lenses and jpeg processing, and short battery life.

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Sony USA has said the NEX-7 will begin to ship this month to some customers who pre-ordered it, following a halt in production cause by flooding in Thailand in October. Production is still limited but the company says it will 'aggressively pursue all efforts to restore full capacity' for the NEX-7 and other affected models (which is thought to include the NEX-5N, A65 and A77).

Sony has published details of two OLED displays, giving more detail about the electronic viewfinders used in its SLT A65, A77 and NEX-7 cameras. The displays are based on white LEDs shining through color filters, rather than direct-emitting colored LED technology, helping them to offer higher resolutions combined with 90% coverage of the NTSC color gamut. The company also claims a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 - ten times greater than that offered by its latest WhiteMagic rear LCD screens, also detailed in the company's latest semiconductor newsletter. Their appearance in the newsletter is likely to mean they are available for sale to other manufacturers, raising the prospect of other makers' cameras appearing with high-resolution OLED EVFs.

Just Posted: Our hands-on video preview of the Sony NEX-7. The NEX-7 is Sony's enthusiast mirrorless camera, combining a 24MP CMOS sensor with a 2.4M dot OLED electronic viewfinder and more physical controls than on any of the previous NEX cameras. There's been a lot of interest in camera, so we've prepared a hands-on preview video to show what it can do. There will be a more extensive written preview published next week, as part of the process of writing a full review but, in the meantime, we hope this video helps give you an idea of what to expect.

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